Little Wonders ((Shansel))

Chapter 1 》Going Home

Shailene...

I scan the card on Ansel's hotel room door, the moniter flashes green and I open the door. Ansel is standing on the balcony looking out into the city. I join him and observing the buildings and the life. I look tentatively at Ansel. There is longing in his eyes.

"Missing New York?" I ask.

He stares at me then says "Yeah. I'm missing mom and dad and Violetta."

I nod. "We have a week off next week. Let's go to New York. And if Miles an come..."

"Monday?"

I nod and get on Ansel's laptop.

♢♢♢

Ansel, Miles and I get into the first seats in the plane. Miles takes the window seat, Ansel the middle and I sit at the remaining seat. I take out a book from my bag and begin to read. It's the Best Friends book by Jacqueline Wilson. A thin book but very heartwarming.

Alice and Gemma are best friends. Alice is girly and dainty while Gemma is a troublemaker. They do everything together... well they don't do the same thing but they're always together. Gemma gives Alice her grandmother's doll because she is unable to take care of it but she knows alice will. One day, Alice stops eating and doing much of anything. She spends her time writing in her diary and mostly just crying. Gemma has no idea what's wrong with her so she decides to look into alice's diary.

The plane takes off and the roar of the engine is loud but I get back into the book.

Alice catches Gemma and decides to tell Gemma the truth. She tells Gemma she is moving to scotland. They try to spend as much time as possible together. Alice's mother brags on how much Alice will be spoiled in scotland. Alice and Gemma hide away during the farewell party and run away. But their enemy Biscuit catches them and calls their parents. Gemma gets in big trouble and Alice moves to scotland. Alice has been sending Gemma lots of emails through a new friend. Gemma's grandfather a cabdriver...

I feel a bony finger tap my shoulder. I look up to see the flight attendant with a grey blanket folded neatly on her arm. She gives me the blanket and points at Ansel. I nod and thank her. I pull down the cover of the window and drape the blanket around a sleeping Ansel, reminding me of the airplane scene in The Fault in Our Stars. I smile at the thought and open up the book again.

He tells Gemma that he will be taking a rich old lady to a place near scotland. He takes gemma with him so she can help him take care of the old lady. Gemma does a good job and the old lady finally gets to her destination and Gemma gets to scotland. She is there to celebrate Alice's birthday which they share. But Alice's new friend flora always seems to be in the way. Alice makes gemma a friendship bracelet but she has to make flora one too. it crosses the line when flora took control of Gemma's grandmother's doll! She changed her name to Rosebud and made her a pink dress. Gemma is very annoyed. When it was finally time for the birthday celebration, Alice and Gemma are about to do their tradition of cutting the cake together when Flora makes Alice and their parents let her cut the cake with Alice instead. Gemma is so frustrated she sticks the cake on Flora's face. Gemma gets in big trouble and is never allowed to visit Alice again. Her grandfather has to drive her home, but before they leave Alice gives her back her grandmother's doll and they bid farewell. Alice says there will never be a friend as good as Gemma. Gemma feels heartbroken because she has to celebrate her birthday on her own. She ends up celebrating it with Biscuit. She realises he isn't so bad afterall.

I feel a hand on my right shoulder.

"How'd you sleep?" I ask turning to face Ansel.

"Fine." He says. "What are you reading?"

I lift the book up to show him the cover. Its yellow with little glittery drawings of Gemma and Alice on it.

The speaker comes on and an announcement tells us that we're landing soon. Ansel pulls up the window cover. As the plane begins to fly lower and circle over New York. We get to see a beautiful bird's eye view. The plane lands and music comes on through the speaker.

...

At the airport Ansel's brother, mom, dad and girlfriend Violetta are waiting for him. He hugs his mom then shakes his dad and brother's hand, the gives Violetta multiple kisses on her cheek which makes her laugh.

I check into my hotel. Miles and I enter our rooms which are beside eachother. I sigh looking out from the balcony stretching my arms. My cell phone rings. I flip the screen up and answer the phone.

"Hi Natt." I say.

"Shai. Are you in New York? Miles told me he is."

"Yeah. We're on a little vacation."

"Are Ansel and Theo with you?"

"Theo isn't he's off to England. Ansel's in NYC."

"Alright. Tell Ansel he can join us for dinner tonight."

"Where?"

"Hakkasan chinese restaurant?"

"Oh I'll tell him. See you."

I call Ansel. No answer.

I leave a text instead.

Me: Ansel. Miles, Nat, and I are going to Hakkasan for dinner tonight. Wanna join? 4:30p.m.

After a little while my flip phone beeps. I flip up the cover and read the text.

Ansel: Sorry busy :( spending time with Violetta every night this week. 4:33 p.m.

I sigh and leave Nat a text.

Me: Ansel is busy- he's spending time with his girlfriend 4:33p.m.

...

At the restaurant I sit at a table with Nat, Miles and Cara. Cara gives me a hug.

"Hey. Cara how's it like being a John Green character?"

"Awesome!" She says "Margo is the coolest."

"I'll bet she is." I say.

"And Nat is such a great company." She says looking at Nat.

"And Cara is the happiest person I've ever met." Nat grins.

Cara giggles. "Aw Nat that's not true" Cara pulls a frowny face.

"From what I'm seeing its very true." Miles adds. "What did you have for breakfast? Amity bread?"

I swat Mile's arm but Cara says "Oh yes, I really like you both in Insurgent! And I can't forget how Shailene pinned you down with a table."

Miles smirks. "That's because I let her."

The food arrives.

Suddenly, Cara asks "Wasn't Ansel supposed to be here?"

"Oh, no." I say "He's with his girlfriend."

"You guys were quite the couple in The Fault in Our Stars. How was it? Being a John Green character."

"It was incredible. I love Hazel. She's simple and keeps everything real and natural. She relates to me a lot."

We eat in awkward silence. We each have a bowl of jasmine rice and share tofu, beans and the BBQ chicken.

When we finish Miles tells us about his experience filming in the movie Fantastic 4.